odds and ends

Joey Butler, the former Pascagoula High standout, has lost his roster spot with Tampa Bay, but Rays officials reportedly want to keep the outfielder/DH in the organization. Butler hit .276 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 88 games in 2015, getting his first extended playing time in MLB at age 29. He was designated for assignment on Thursday after the Rays acquired Hank Conger. … Will anyone take a chance on 37-year-old free agent Cliff Lee, the Meridian Community College alum who missed all of the past season with a shoulder injury? Left-hander Lee, who has 143 wins, a 3.52 career ERA and a Cy Young award on his ledger, hasn’t pitched in a big league game since July 31, 2014. Philadelphia cut him loose after last season, but he has been medically cleared to pitch again. … The next Mississippian to make The Show could well be Mississippi State alum Hunter Renfroe, who reached Triple-A in the San Diego system in 2015 and hit .333 with six bombs in 21 games. Speculation is that Renfroe, now rated the No. 3 prospect in the Padres’ system by Baseball America, will get a shot in right field in San Diego at some point in 2016. … Three former Mississippi Braves pitchers recently signed minor league contracts: Todd Redmond with Baltimore, Paul Clemens with Miami and Scott Diamond with Toronto. Mike Minor, non-tendered by Atlanta, probably will land somewhere, as well.